Automatic or semiautomatic telephone exchange system



March 14, 1933.

E. P. G. WRIGHT AUTOMATIC OR SEMIAUTOMATIC TELEPHONE EXCHANGE SYSTEM Filed April 23 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 a R /i/ g {R92 R2 J by 3 26 F/G. FM

qooovoooonooo oaoonoqw-wooucooffiffoaooooffgou' INVENTOR E-SMOND P. G. WRIGHT ATTORNEY Match 14, 1933. 'E R G wmGHT 1,900,9 9

AUTOMATIC OR SEMIAUTOMATIC TELEPHONE EXCHANGE SYSTEM Filed April 23. 1951 2 Sheets-Shea 2 0 9 0 0 0 00 0 0 0 0000000000600900000 \i m w. fZ/IZZ 0 4-----O- fa000 500000 00000 00500009000000009900 efi' l 7 i Ill" INVENTOR ESMOND P. c. WRIGHT ATTORNEY ESMOND PHILIP eoonwiii WRIGHT, or ennwvcn,

"i subscriber by mea V F and the first path switch S1 is set undercontrol of the first byopath 1B which stores Patented Mar. 14,1933

warren stares ima es rarsnr orrics- LONDON, ENGLAND, ASSIG'NOR TO INTERNATIONAL STANDARD F LEGTRIS CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

AUTCIIIATIG OR SEMIAUIOMATIQ TELEPHONE EXCHANGE' SYSTEM Application filed Apri1'23, 1931, Serial 110.532323, and in Great Britain May 13, 1930.

This invention relates to automatic or semiautomatic telephone systems and. more par-- ticularly to arrangements adapted to be used for controlling the setting up of calls in networks comprising a number of exchanges.

In lmown arrangements, a so-called register translator is used which is set in accordance ith the value of code digits dialled and transmits routing digits which may differ in number and value from those received.

In such arrangements, a number of proposals have been made to provide translating devices common to a number of registertranslators instead of individual to each register-translator. Such arrangements have not come into practical use, due to certain operating drawbacks which are encountered therein. p I

We have previously proposed, in our U. S.

I application Ser. No. 506,884, iilcd Jan. 6, 1931,

novel arrangements whereby these dra I backs are considerabl overcome and further progress has been made in the present invention in which it is thought that the difficultiesencountered are practically obviated.

According to the main feature of the invention, a registersender comprises an impulse sending device which is adapted'to transmit trains of impulsesunder direct con trol of a device common to a plurality of register senders.

Further features of the invention will be apparent from the following description of one embodiment of the invention and will be set out in the appended statement of claims.

Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings shows the felevant portion of a telephone sys tem embodying the principles of this inven tion. The first stage is connected to a calling ns of a line. finder such as the first di it dialled by the subscriber. The '4 B second path switch S2 is set under control OJ.

' the second bye-path 2B which stores the second and third digits in the manner set forth in our prior U. S. appllcation Ser. No. 506,- 88 l. The second path S2 may either give acto other switches in the same ofiice, or alternatively, to repeaters connected w th junctions to other oihces. The second byepath comprises three switches: R1 which helps to control the switch R3 as explained and the switch R3 which stores thesecond (li ialled digit under the control of theswitch -fui. wipers in consequence to a numericalIposition corresponding with the second and third digits. Over the wipers of the R3iswitch connection is made with one of a plurality of translator switches TM common to the ex; change. In the systemdescribed in our before-mentioned U. S. application Ser. No. 506,884, certain of the calls only were handled by the registers and the present invention concerns only those calls which are handled by a register. The'register R is associated with the second bye-path 213 by means of the associating switch FM. WVhen the register is taken into use the code digits have already been stored and the numerical digits are relayed from the second code bye-path to the register where they are stored. The registerperforms no function other than storing and transmitting the numerical digits and if necessary controlling zone-metering. The second bye-path 2B- chooses a suitable outlet under the control of the code digits stored and sends a signal to the register as an indication that code sending may commence. The

sending device in the register comprises a pair of loop interrupter springs which are opened and closed mechanically and which are controlled by sending control relay springs normally short circuiting the interand the third digit direct, bringing its rupter springs. The sending control relay is for example, special metering conditionsare 1 9 the same translatorswitch. Thetranslator' relays operate to prevent the register sending a mutilated portion of a translation due to the translator switch already being in operation at'the time when the connection to the register is established. On this account, it

will be appreciated that the code sending does not necessarily commence immediately a suit- '20 able outlet has been found, but as the maj ority of the calls will not need to use a register at all the occasional delay will not result in any material delayto the subscriber.

According to one feature of the invention, the interdigital delay period for the code digits is controlled from the translator switch. It the translation does not require the use of the 'full contacts on the translator switch the remaining terminals will be passed over by the switch right through its own interrupter and under the control of the tenth wiper. If the translation requires more than 50 positions the translator switch can be arranged as a five wiper '100 point switch 1n which case provision will be made for four exchange wipers, the fifth wiper being used for controlling purposes. The

operation of the second bye-path 213 forms no portion of the invention and is not described. The translator switches are operated from impulse springs which are in phase with the magnet and'loop springs of all the registers.

Referring now tot-he remainder of the accompanyin g drawings.

Figure 2 represents the register circuit.

' The switch FM is the finder associating the register with the second bye-path. The

i switch NM controls the storage of the numerical digits and the switch SM controls the sending of numerical digits.

Figure 3 shows a portion of the translator switch, one exchange wiper TMiZ only being shown and two levels of the R3 switch of thesecond bye-path. It will he understood that there are eight other exchange wipers TM3TM1O.

Turning now to Figure 2, the detailed 6- operationfor an interexchange call will be described.

The second code bye-path in response to the second and third code digits selects a direct or tandem junction as required in the manner disclosed in our U. S. application No. 506,884 and also selects the required trans lator switch and the correct wiper thereon as indicated in Figure 3.

When the second code requires a register a ground is connected to the start wire which is extended through wipers NME}, NlVM to the start relay S. Relay S completes the driving circuit for the finder magnet FM through its interrupter springs, contacts 82, home position wiper sml the home position of wiper nm6 to ground at $1. Contacts 81 prepare the circuit of the testing relay T to wiper fml. The calling second code will be characterized by a battery potential on its test contact which will cause the operation of relay T. The operation of contacts 61 short circuits the high resistance winding of the relay T which remains operated on its low resistance winding to the test battery. Relay T completes the circuit for relay E through contacts t2 and 08. Relay E connects ground through contacts 63, Z2 to the wiper rm? to hold the second bye-path, con tacts 62 place a short circuit on one winding of the relay H. Contacts 61 prepare an operating circuit forthe relay H via wiper fmQ. The numerical digits are stored via switch NM on relay sets such as XA-XD in a manner described later. When the second bye-path has found a free outlet ground is connected to a bank terminal associated with the wiper fmQ. causing the operation of relay H. Contacts he maintain the ground on the wiper f'm'l' and contacts 7L2 connect the relay F to the wiper FM5. If the translator switch is in its home position relay F will operate Via wiper fm5 and a wiper Win31, Fig. 3 of the switch R3, in the second code, relays EX and TA, the home contact and wiper tml to ground. If the translator switch is not in its home position the circuit for relay F will be delayed until the switch returns home. Relay F in operating closes a circuit for the relay G through contacts f6 and t2; relay G looks through contacts g4. Contacts g3 prepare the circuit for the relay A which is not at present operated. The operation of relay TA in the translator Fig. 3 prepares a circuit for the relay TB, which is, however, short-circuited by the magnet springs TS and in consequence relay TB does not operate unless the springs TS are open. When the relay TB operates the circuit is completed for the magnet TM through contacts b2, interrupter springs TS, and the contacts an to ground causing the switch TM to step. At the completion of its first step the wiper tml completes a locking circuit for the relay TB through contacts 661 and the ground is removed from the relay TA causing that relay and the relay F in the register 1 to. release. With relay Cr operated and relay F released'relay A 1n the register is connected via 93, f5 to the wiper fm6 in a circuit which is extended through wiper M232 Fig. 3 of the second bye-path to the wiper m2 of the tacts a3, Z4 and the magnet interrupter springs MS to ground causing the switch SM to take one step for each of the preliminary positions grounded for the wiper 25921.2. Loop springs LS are at present short-circuited at Z3. As has already been pointed out the magnet springs TS and MS open and close at the same time. l/Vhen the ground is removed :Erom the wiper $0722 the relay A releases anda circuit is completed from ground, contacts MS, Z4, a3, f3 to the wiper amid. If the switch SM has taken only one step the wiper em?) will be connected to the relay 0. If it has taken two steps connection will be made with the relays M and N in series. For three steps the relay N alone and four steps the relay M alone. The operation of relays M or N or M and N together represent the metering conditions to be applied to the message register if the call is connected successfully. The operation of relay M or N will cause the operation of the relay L through contacts m2 or 712, contacts Z5 and 62 providing a lock to maintain the relays operated. The relay 0 signifies that the call is to be extended to an operator and that there 35 will be no numerical portion to be received or sent. Relay 0 will also cause the operation of relay L through contacts 02. It is assumed that all calls to anoperator will require only single fee metering and in consequence the operation of relay 0 is equivalent to the operation of the relay N but it will be understood that arrangements couldbe made without departing from the spirit of the invention to cause any combination of the metering relays to be operated for diilerent operator calls. The relay L in operating provides a driving circuit for magnet SM through its interrupter springs, contacts L6,

. bank contact and wiper em? to ground, causing the switch to advance to position 6 in which position ground is connected to the wiper em? Contacts Z3 remove a short-circuit from across the loop springs LS which remain short-circuited, however by springs a1. Meanwhile, the translator switch TM continues stepping and after passing overa number of blank terminals provided to produce a delay, the wiper 'tm2 comes into contact with a number of bank terminals which are grounded in accordance with the first translated digit. RelayA is re-operatcd as already described and as the loop springs LS in the register will open once in each of these grounded positions an impulse will be sent out to line in a loop through wipers fm3, k1,

e2, LS, 21, k3, to wiper m4. At theend of the digit A releases to stop impulse send ing but the switch TM continues stepping over another series of bank contacts which provide a period for switch hunting and subsequently make contact with the grounded terminals representing the second translated digit. Relay A re-operates causing a corresponding series of impulses to be sent out to line. If the code is to be translated to three digits the switch TM will pass over a third set of blank terminals and subsequently make connection with a third set of grounded terminals representing the third translated digit. -l/Vhen all the grounded sets of terminals in bank zfm2 have been passed the locking circuit for the relay TB will be opened due to wiper tml passing from one oft-normal arc to the other and a driving circuit is completed for the switch TM through its interrupter springs, bank contact and wiper tml to ground-causing the translator switch to return-to its home position. In the home position ground will again be extended through wiper 7"fll31 and #125 to the relay F which will lock up via'contact-s fl to ground at Z1. It should be understood here that relay 1 is quick operating whereas the relay TA in the translator is slow to operate and because the relay F, in operating cuts itself oil from the relay TA'th'e latter will. not

operate in series with relay Fit the relay L is already operated. The re-operation or relay l3 causes the operation of relay Z through contacts f3, wiper sm3 and bank contact to ground. The circuit for the magnet SM is now re-established through its interrupter springs, contacts Z6, f4, bank contact and wiper 89722 to ground causing the switch to advance to position 8. The operation of relay Z inserts the relay D into a forward loop from wiper fm3, contacts ill, 62, winding of relay D, 21, 7L3, wiper fml. If, for any reason, sending is to be delayed, the battery feed will be reversed, relay D-which is of the polarizedtype, is operated and closes a locking circuit for Z at (Z1. When the sending maybe restarted the direction of the current in the loop is changed causing relay D to release thereby removing the ground at contacts (Z1. Relay Z willremain operated,- however, if the magnet springs SM are closed by virtue of the ground through contacts Z4, f2, .23 but the relay Z will fall back when the springs SM open. When the magnet springs re-close a ground will be extended to the magnet SM through contacts Z4, f2, and s3 causing the switch to step. Having made one step and reached position?) a circuit is completed for the relay A through contacts 93, f5,ba nk contact and wiper $1722 to ground. Contacts a1 open the short-circuit from across the loop springs LS, causing an im-- pulse to be sent to line The storage relays XA, XB, KG, 111), YAYD and ZAZD have been operated in the following manner' The lead from the second bye-path is extended through wiper fm9, contacts ea, winding of relay C contacts 702, to the numerical magnet NM causing the numerical switch to take a number of steps corresponding to the thousands digit. The relay C is of the slow releasing type and remains operated during the train of impulses. Contacts 01 close a circuit via 01, $1 for the relay K which is also of the slow to release type. At the end of the series of impulses relay C falls back and a circuit is established through contacts 251, 01 and 701 to the wipers mnl, nmQ, 427%, m4, causing the operation of a combination of the relays XA, XB, XC, XD, which will be locked up over a circuit which is not shown. When the relay K releases theswitch NM is driven to position 12 through its interrupter springs, contacts 703, the bank contact and wiper M725 to ground at $1. The hundreds digit will be stored on the relays YA-YD in known manner and the tens digits on'the relay ZA ZD. The

units digit will be stored by the switch NM and in this case the relay K will be main tained operated through the bank contacts of wiper nm5 to ground at 61. The main- 7 tained operation of the relay K after the relay O has released prevents impulsing subsequent to, the units digit by means of contacts 02 and 762. The contacts of the relays XA-XD, etc., will be wired in a well known manner to the bank contacts of the wiper $0773 to cause ground potential to be connected so that the relay Z will be operated after a definite number of steps depending upon the impulses stored. When the relay Z operates the loop springs are short-circuited by the springs .21 and the sender switch runs forward through its interrupter springs and contacts Z4, bank connot yet been dialled.

' tact and wiper 84122 to ground until it reaches the home position prior to the home position for sending the hundreds digit. RelayA is also maintained operated until the new home position is found and relay Z will be maintained throughcontacts 22 and (12 so long as the A relay is operated and furthermore it will be maintained if the magnet springs MS are closed or it will be maintained by a connection in the home position for the 100s digit. by ground potential connected thereto ifall the relays YA, YG and YD are normal thus indicating that the hundreds digit has When the relay Z eventuall releases a ste in circuit for the magnet SM is rerestablished through the v contacts 28, f2, Z l; MS to ground. The switch passes over a number of dead terminals to 1 provide an interdigital period and subsequently causes the re-operation of relay A causing the impulses to again be sent out to line. Relay Z will be operated as before by contacts of the relay YA-YD and in a similar way the tens digit will be sent out under the control of relays ZAZD. The units digits will be sent out in similar manner, the relay Z being operated in this case by direct strapping between the bank contact associated with the wiper mnt and the bank contact associated with the wiper 57123. When the units digit has been sent relay will be operated through bank contact and wiper sm2 to ground. At the same time, the relay Z will be operated through f3, sm3 from ground at k5. The operation of relay 0 opens the circuit of the relay E, relay F be ing already operated. Relay E removes at contacts 62 the short circuit across the winding of relay H, which will remain operated so long as it receives a loop fed back. Contacts 61 open the operating circuit of relay H connecting the wiper fmQ to ground through contacts 91 for the purpose of holding the second code circuit operated. Contacts 63 extend ground through contacts 92 to the wiper fmS which causes the operation of the switching relay in the second path thereby extending the calling subscribers loop to the outgoing repeater and causing the removal thereby of the current passing through the second winding of the relay H. When the relay H releases contacts hl and 71.3 connect the positive and/or negative lines to ground as determined by the metering relays M, N and O. The removal of ground by contacts hl causes the release of certain relays in the second bye-path in preparation for the general release. The removal of ground from contacts k opens the circuit of relay Z thereby closing a stepping circuit from the magnet SM through con tacts .23, f2, Z4, MS to ground. The switch SM will take two steps before the relay Z re-operates and this period of time is sufficient for the operation of the metering relays in the repeater. The relay E is now re-operated through bank contact and wiper sm2 to ground causing the removal of ground from the wiper fmQ thereby causing a complete release of the second code which in turn removes battery from the wiper 'fml, causing the release of the relay T in the register which now returns home. If the call was to be routed to an operator and there were no numerical digits to be sent relay 0 would have been operated as already described before the sending was commenced and when relay F operated at the end of code sending the circuit for relay E would have been opened, causing the release to take place as already described. The period for the release of relay H and metering being provided, by the time taken for the sender switch to advance from position 8 to position 21 where the circuit for the relay E will be reestablishedv through the bank contact and wiper sm2; this'circuit for relay E will be maintained in positions 23, 24 and 25 in order to ensure the release of the relays.

A relay EX is provided individual to each exchange, and is operated in series with TA to record the call on a traflic meter.

What is claimed is: V

1. In a telephone system the combination of a register sender comprising an impulse receiving device and an impulse sending device, a switching device common to a pinralityof said register senders adapted to be set in accordance with code digits transmitted thereto and means whereby said sending device is adapted to transmit trains of impulses under direct control of said switching device and said impulse receiving device. f

2. In a telephone system' wherein subscribers numbers include code digits and numerical digits, the combination of a register sender, apparatus common to a plurality of said register senders for receiving saidv code digits, storage means in said register sender for receiving and recording said numerical digits, and sending means in said; register sender operative under the control of said apparatus and of said storage means to transmit impulses to control the setting up of a connection in accordance with the value of both routing and numerical digits, v

3. In an automatic telephone exchange forming part of an exchange network, the combination of means for registering routing digits, translating devices arranged to determine the translated digits-to be transmitted for one of the exchanges in the network said translating devices being 'associated in common with a plurality of said registering means, means whereby said registering means is adapted to select in ac-' cordance with its setting the required translating device and a sending device operatively connected with said translating device and adapted to transmit impulses under the control thereof.

ll/In a telephone exchange system, the combination of conversation circuits, ex change code digit registers associated'in common with a plurality ofsaid conversation circuits, translating devices associated .in common with a plurality of exchange code digit registers and adapted to determine the routing digits to be transmitted for one exchange in the network, register senders associated in common with a plurality of code digit registers and means for transmitting impulses from said register senders under control of said translating devices. a v i 5. In a telephone exchange forming part of a network, the combination of a digit control switch, a plurality of levels in said switch, an impulse sending device, means for operatively associating said impulse sending device with a selected level of said digit controlling switch whereby the transmission of routing digits bysaid impulse sending device is controlled fromsaid level, and relay means operable under the control of the. selected level of said digit controlling switch for determining the metering tariif to be charged for a call so transmitted.

6. In an automatic telephone system the combination of a plurality of impulse sending devices, a digit controlling switch common to said devices, a plurality of levels in said controlling switch each of said levels being wired to representtranslated routing digits individual to a particular Wanted exchange, means-for associating any of said impulse sending devices with aselected level of said controlling switch and means for opcrating the impulse sending device in synchronism with the stepping of said control switch when so associated, totransmit said one of said register senders to control they transmission of said translated routing digits and means in said controlling deviceto effect release of said register sender when routing digits only are to be sent by the register sende v v l 8. In a telephone exchange system, the combination of conversational switches, control circuits associated with'the conversation switches, translating switches each associated in common with a plurality of said control circuits and each comprising a plurality of wipers each of which is adapted to control the transmission of the translated routing digits for setting upaparticular interexchange call, register-senders each of which is associated in common with a plurality of said control circuits, registering means in said control circuits operative'to select a particular wiperof a particular translating switch in response to one or more code digits, and impulse-sending means in said register-senders operative to transmit translated routing dig- I its under direct control otsa-id translating switch. I

of a selecting stage comprising a selecting switch and control circuits, outgoing junction lines and locallines terminating in said selectlngswitch,aregistermg means in sald ,120 9. In a telephone system, the combination control circuit, meansto record code digits vidual to the wanted exchange, means? for operatively connecting said device with said registering means, and a sending device operative under control of said routing-digit control device totransmit routing digits over said outgoing junction. 7

10. In a telephone system, the combination of a selecting stage comprising a selecting switch and control circuits, outgoing junction lines and local lines terminating in said selecting switch, a registering means comprising a single motion switch adapted to record two code digits under supervision of a control circuit, means for operating said selectin}; switch under control of said registerlng means to select an outgoing junction line, a routing digit control switch the wiper of which is connected to a single bank of said registering switch, means for operatively connecting said devicewith said registering means, and a sending device operative under control of said routing-digit control device to transmit routing digits over said outgoing junction. 7

u 11. In anautomatic telephone system the combination of a plurality of impulse sending devices, asingle motion digit control switch common tosaid devices, a plurality of levels in said control switch each level comprlsing a plurality of groups of linked contacts separated by a plurality of independent contacts whereby the digits to be transmitted and the inter-digital periods are determined, means for associating any of said impulse sending devices with a selected level of said controlling switch and means for operating the impulse sending device in synchronism with the stepping of said control switch when so is associated, to transmit said translated routing digits.

12. In a telephoneexchange forming part ofanetwork, the combination of a metering control switch, a plurality of levels in said switch, animpulse sending switch, means forope'ratively associating said impulse sending switch'with a. selected level of said metering control switch whereby the setting of the impulse sendingswitch is controlled from said level, and, storage means connected with said impulse sending switch and operated inaccordance with, thesetting of said switch.

13. In a telephone exchange system the combination of register-senders adapted to transmit trains of impulses corresponding to translated code digits and numerical digit-s, translated code digit controlling switches associated in common with a plurality of register senders, means for selecting one of said controlling swltches in accordance with the value of the code digits dialled, a numerical digit sender control switch in each register sender, and an impulsing machine having a plurality of synchronously operated pairs of impulsing springs, two pairs forming part of each register sender, one for transmitting trains of impulses,and the other stepping the numerical digit sender-control switch in synchronism as required and a further pair associated with each translated digit controlling switch for stepping said switch in synchronism with impulse transmission.

14.. In a telephone system as claimed in claim 9, the combination of a register-sender, means to connect said register sender to said control circuit during the setting up of a connection, means in said register sender to transmit routing digits under direct control of the selected routing digit control device and means to transmit numerical digits under control of storage devices in said register sender.

15. In a telephonesystem, the combination of a register sender, means independent of said register sender adapted to be set in accordance with the code digit or digits dialled, a plurality of routing digit controlling means each of which is adapted to control the transmission of the digits required for reaching a particular exchange, means whereby said first mentionedmeans is adaptedto selectone of said controlling means in response to said code digit or 'digitsand means in said register sender to transmit impulses under control of said controlling means;

16. In combination a plurality of register. senders, means for registering 'code digits independent of said register senders, a plurality of routing digit control devices each associated with a' wanted exchange and common to a plurality of said register senders and said means, means for automatically connecting one of said register senders with said means and with a selected control device, and means in said register sender for transmitting impulses under control of said selected control device. c

17. In combination a plurality of register senders, storage devices in said register senders for recording numerical digits, means independent of said register senders for registering code digits, a plurality of routing digit control devices each associated with a wanted exchange and common to a plurality of said register senders and said means, means for automaticallyconnecting one of said register senders with said means and with a selected control device, and means in said register sender for transmitting impulses under control of said selected control device and of said storagedevice.

18. In a telephone system, the combination of a register sender, a switching device independent of said register sender actuated by code digits, a routing digit control device selectable by said switchirigldevice, means for operatively connecting saidregister sender with said controldevice andimpulse send ing means in said registersender controlled by said control device.

its

19. In a telephone system, the combination of a register sender, means in said register sender for recording numerical digits, a switching device independent of said register sender and adapted to be operated by code digits, control means selectable by said switching device and comprising a predeter' mined record of routing digits individual to a Wanted exchange, and impulse sending means in said register sender operative to transmit impulses first under control of said control means and later under control of said numerical digit recording means.

In Witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this ninth day of April, 1931.

ESMOND PHILIP GOODWIN WRIGHT. 

